Hi Randal:
First of all, on behalf of Paddlwheeler enthusiasts and modelers all
over the world, welcome to Paddleducks.
Yup USS Michigan is a pretty famous ship and was the first iron-hulled
warship in the U.S. Navy and the first of her kind on the Great
Lakes where she provided "a formidable and grand naval presence" . As
you note, she was renamed as the first "Wolverine" and, although this
is probably not news to you, a subsequent USS "Wolverine" was one of
only two Aircraft Carrier paddle wheelers ever built and also operated
in the Great Lakes almost exactly a century after the original
"Michigan".
Now..turning to plans for "Michigan." (US-007)..easy number to
remember if you're a James Bond fan! Locating plans for a vessel can
be a slow (but fascinating) process. However, I think you're in luck
because you're dealing with a pretty famous side paddler here.
The National Archives lists a number of plans for your ship at
http://www.marylandsilver.com/Ship.htmUS-007 Wolverine, (ex-Michigan)(Side Wheel Steamer)(1844-1949), $32.50
Sheer, 1/2 Breath, 12"x49" (1844), 1/4" scale.
Inboard Profile, 14"x49" (Reduced 50%)(1892), 1/4" scale.
Outboard Profile, 13"x27" (Reduced 50%)(1897), 1/8" scale.
Three X-Sections, 12"x24" (Reduced 50%)(1897), 1/4" scale.
F'cle, Upper & Poop Decks, 14"x46" (Reduced 50%)(1897), 1/4" scale.
Plan of Skid Beams for Boat Storage.& Qtr. Deck,14"x39" (Red.50%),
1/4" scale.
Spar Deck, 13"x20" (1 of 2)(Reduced 50%)(1845), 1/4" scale.
Spar Deck, 13"x20" (2 of 2)(Reduced 50%)(1845), 1/4" scale.
Masts & Spars, 18"x39" (1842), 1/8" scale.
Note: Although most of these are 1/4" scale (1:48) these are NOT
model building plans and as such you may have to modify them to suit
the model construction (unless you are planning a museum model). You
will also need good reference (drawings, old photos and other images)
to verify general and deck arrangements and rigging.
There are some other Museums which may be able to help, (but be
careful as some charge (hansdsomely) for research and almost always
charge for plans and images.
The ERIE MARITIME MUSEUM, opened in 1988, I believe houses the prow of
the "Michigan/Wolverine" and may have substantial reference on the
ship. However, all the original links I had to this site are no
longer active and when I do a search on it, I only get the usual "buy
our souvenirs" type cr*p. However, it might be worth contacting them
direct at:
ERIE MARITIME MUSEUM
150 E Front St,
Erie PA 16507
You can also try their email at
miller@brigniagara.org
Although I never got any reply when I tried to reach them by email a
few months ago, you might save time by phoning them at 814-452-2744.
You may also be able to also get some help from The Great Lakes
Historical Society (but, be warned, they will charge you for use of
their Museum Library).
Inland Seas Maritime Museum
P.O. Box 435
Vermilion, Ohio 44089-0435
Email glhs1@inlandseas.org
I believe there are other Naval Museums on the Great Lakes and this
might be a good place to look for old drawings and reference. The
Nautical Research Guild is a good organization and have a website
which unfortunately contains research elements (such as back issue
articles and Museum Models lists) that have not been updated in a
couple of years. (Oh for a worldwide database of locations for ship
plans and museum study models)
http://www.naut-res-guild.org/Here is a page I like alot, but as you can see has not been updated
since 1999. You'd think that a ship of the historical importance of
"USSMichigan/Wolverine" would appear in the list but it doesn't.
http://www.naut-res-guild.org/museums/mus-sum.htmlOther sources of plans:
You might try putting out RFI's (Request for Information) on various
internet bulletin boards and other Yahoo Groups email forums looking
for those who have a similar interest in your ship. Often individuals
and clubs have plans for a model which they'll let you have for the
price of copying and postage. Sometimes you can luck out on someone
who has already built a model of your subject ship (as has happenned
to me on a number of occasions)and this makes building your model much
easier. This is my preferred method of research as you are often able
to supplement the work of others with your own.
ACCURACY:
Remember that ships' appearances and fittings could change quite
dramatically during their long service lives, so you have to determine
what year (period) of the ship your research needs to focus on.
However, remember that the value of a model is often determined by how
faithfully it has been researched, documented, and built to an
accurate prototype reference. If you're not worried by total
historical accuracy, then model her as YOUR fancy dictates.
SCALE:
You didn't state if you plan on building an operating Radio Control
(R/C) model or one for static display only. The other consideration is
whether or not you want to also operate her under sail as a "SCALE
SAIL" R/C replica which requires multi channel operation for the
various sails.
At 1:48 (1/4" to the foot) your model will end up at around 42" (if
the OAL of 167' is to be believed). However, I'm a little puzzled by
the "1/2 Breath, 1/4" scale" plans of 1844 from the National Archives
which show scaled dimensions of 12"x49"! I'm bothered by the 7"
or 28 foot discrepancy, some of which MIGHT be accounted for by a
sprit when it existed.
In any case 1/4" scale (1:48) is good, as any model under 48" will fit
handily in the back of a car, although masts and rigging might be a
bit of a prob in this case! The advantage of this scale is that many
fittings (and figures) are readily evailable as this is the famous "0"
scale of model railroading.
For STATIC display, 1/4" is pretty large (unless you own a museum!) so
scales such as 1/64 or 1/72 become viable for the living room, with
1/96 providing what could be an exquisite 24" model. You will also
need to determine if you plan to model sails (furled or billowing) or
if you wish to leave them off your model. Nevertheless, please heed
this advice from a long time static model builder..build a DISPLAY
CASE as soon as you've laid your keel and built your frame and know
what your overall dimensions will be
PADDLE WHEELS
Ok the GREAT DEBATE!! Did she have plain paddle wheels or feathering
blades. (look in our files and archived messages for more information
on this). You'll also find a bit of ref on (my) ideas for building
wheels.
Graupner have a set of fully feathering side paddle wheels in
styrene for their 1:48 "Glasgow" steam tug, but these may be a little
small for your ship in the same scale. (American sidewheels seem to
have been larger than their European counterparts). Building standard
non feathering paddle wheels is not highly complex. However, you
should ascertain what type of wheels "Michigan" was equipped with and
how (and WHEN) they were modified during her service life if you plan
a later version of the ship.
Good luck with your "Michigan/Wolverine" and keep us posted. The
payback for us here at Paddleducks is hearing about model
paddlewheeler projects as they progress from ideas to reality...and
the photos that accompany the progress which we can all share in.
PJ
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